Valve device for at least one liquid plastic component

Abstract

A valve mechanism for at least one liquid plastic component or liquid plastic, includes a closure device that includes a needle to be pressed against a seat in order to close a valve opening in the valve mechanism. The needle and/or seat is designed or mounted in such a way as to be resilient.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A valve device for at least one liquid plastic component or liquid plastic, comprising:
 a closure device including a seat and a needle to be pressed against the seat for closing a valve opening of the valve device, the needle being movable relative to the seat in a closing direction to a first closed position in which the needle contacts the seat without any pressing force, a second closed position beyond the first closed position in which the needle is pressed against the seat with a first pressing force, and a third closed position beyond the second closed position in which the needle is over-pressed against the seat with a second pressing force greater than the first pressing force; 
 a sensor for monitoring at least one of (i) a position of the needle, (ii) a position of the seat, (iii) a needle mounting, and (iv) a seat mounting, and generating a status signal indicating whether the needle is positioned relative to the seat in the first closed position, the second closed position, or the third closed position based on the monitoring; 
 an evaluation device for receiving the status signal from the sensor and determining a characteristic of an operation of the closure device based on the status signal; 
 wherein at least one of the needle and the seat is adapted to be yielding or mounted yieldingly. 
 
     
     
       2. The valve device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of at least one of the needle and the seat comprise plastic. 
     
     
       3. The valve device as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the plastic of the at least one of the needle and the seat is at least partially elastically deformable. 
     
     
       4. The valve device as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the plastic of the at least one of the needle and the seat is PEK. 
     
     
       5. The valve device as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the plastic of the at least one of the needle and the seat is PEEK. 
     
     
       6. The valve device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the needle and the seat is mounted yieldingly by a respective mounting, wherein the mounting has a force storage member or a deformable portion. 
     
     
       7. The valve device as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the mounting has a force storage member or an elastically deformable portion. 
     
     
       8. The valve device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to perform contact-less monitoring. 
     
     
       9. The valve device as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the evaluation device stores at least two positions characteristic of predetermined closure states of the closure device. 
     
     
       10. A metering valve for providing a metered discharge of at least one liquid plastic component or liquid plastic, the metering valve comprising the valve device as set forth in  claim 1 . 
     
     
       11. The metering valve as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein a discharge opening of the metering valve is closeable by the valve device. 
     
     
       12. The metering valve as set forth in  claim 10 , further comprising a recirculation line, wherein the valve device is configured to close an intake opening of the recirculation line. 
     
     
       13. A metering device comprising:
 a storage container for liquid plastic or at least one liquid plastic component; and 
 the metering valve as set forth in  claim 10  connected to the storage container. 
 
     
     
       14. The metering device as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the valve device of the metering valve is a first valve device, further comprising a second valve device in a recirculation line.